{ 
TIIE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
Marcli 3, 
188 
Ruralisms • 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS 
A Strangle Hold. —The baleful effect 
of the neglected tree label has perhaps 
never been better shown than in Fig. 82, 
page 173. This is a, section of the leader 
of a compact young White spruce re¬ 
ceived several years ago from R. Douglas’ 
Sons, Waukegan, Ill., and planted out 
as one of a large group of ornamental 
conifers. The tree had been selected for 
its dense habit, and the copper-wired label 
was so well concealed that it never was 
noticed until the stunting of the top, ac¬ 
companied with yellowing of foliage and 
the pushing out of a strong upright shoot 
from below made it evident that some ob¬ 
struction to sap circulation was causing 
the mischief. An examination disclosed 
the remarkable condition shown in our il¬ 
lustration. The wire, while not stopping 
the upward flow of crude sap as ab¬ 
sorbed by the roots, so effectually checked 
the return of the food materials after 
elaboration by the foliage that the portion 
of the stem immediately below remains 
precisely of the same size as when the 
choking began, while that above has 
grown to at least three times its former 
bulk. The choking of trees by label 
wires or other constrictions is not un¬ 
common, but it is rare that the cut-off 
in sap circulation is so sharply marked. 
Most deciduous trees soon overgrow so 
narrow an obstruction as a label wire, 
which sooner or later becomes buried in 
the tissues, and growth goes on nor¬ 
mally after a more or less serious check, 
but conifers are likely to be quite per¬ 
manently injured if strangled in any way. 
The trunk of our spruce was of normal 
size up to the whorl of branches just be¬ 
low the starved section which connected 
the two enlarged portions like a spindle. 
One strong branch had turned up to form 
the future leader or main trunk, and the 
entire top above the wire was doomed to 
die from the diversion of its slender flow 
of nutriment. 
The Circulation of Sap. —Sap circula¬ 
tion in plants is often compared to the 
circulation of blood in animals, but the 
similarity is not very close. Aside from 
the heart or pumping organ, possessed by- 
all but the very lowest forms of animal 
life, the main difference lies in the fact 
that- animal blood circulates in open con¬ 
tinuous tubes of great relative length, 
while plant sap makes its way slowly 
from one closed cell to another, forced 
through the cell walls by a form of energy 
known as osmosis , instead of by mechani¬ 
cal contractions. The crude sap or water 
containing mineral plant food appears to 
ascend mainly through the cells of the 
younger wood next the bark, and is not 
greatly influenced by outside pressure, 
but after exposure to air and sunlight in 
the leaves it descends the extreme outside 
layers of wood cells, depositing the ma¬ 
terials from which cambium or new wood 
and bark is formed. Any interruption 
to this return flow is accompanied by 
corresponding enlargement of the parts 
above, provided the upward movement of 
crude materials is maintained. Advan¬ 
tage is taken of this to promote temporary 
fruitfulness by “ringing” or girdling 
branches or trunks of trees and vines. 
This is done by cutting out narrow sec¬ 
tions of bark down to the sap wood, and 
just as effectually, it has since been dis¬ 
covered, by twisting wires tightly at the 
selected places. This process seems essen¬ 
tial with the Currant grape that forms no 
seeds, but is regarded as rather a harmful 
fad when used with other fruits. The 
circulation of blood in animals is rapid 
and continuous, dying or worn-out parti¬ 
cles being constantly excreted by various 
organs, while new materials are being 
added through the assimilation of food 
materials. We do not know that sap ever 
passes twice through the same channels ; its 
function seems accomplished, and it prac¬ 
tically disappears by transpiration after 
the deposition of the food materials 
formed in the leaves, new mineral-bear¬ 
ing moisture being continually absorbed 
from the soil. It is a good idea to exam¬ 
ine closely your trees and remove any 
label wires or other impediments to free 
growth. 
The Variable Winter. —After estab¬ 
lishing a record for continual mildness and 
absence of severe storms up to Febru¬ 
ary, the weather pendulum Has since vio¬ 
lently swung the other way, giving us 
three cold waves and two medium bliz¬ 
zards within 15 days. As zero tempera¬ 
tures were not quite reached in this lo¬ 
cality no serious damage to plant life is 
feared, but repeated sudden temperature 
drops of 40 or more degrees > are certainly 
trying, especially as vegetation is rather 
advanced. Injury can already be detected 
in the bloom buds of Japan piums. Wick- 
son and Burbank’s First, always rather 
tender and excitable, show a high per¬ 
centage of blackened centers. Burbank, 
Abundance and Chabot are still in fair 
apparent condition, as one is quite will¬ 
ing a proportion of their usually excessive 
number of blooms should be blasted. 
Sneed appears to have suffered more in 
bud than other peach varieties exam¬ 
ined. but it is yet too early to form just 
conclusions regarding prospects of this 
uncertain fruit. Strawberries are snug 
under protective coverings, and were lit¬ 
tle excited by the unseasonable warmth 
of Jan liar}', which was steady enough to 
bring out dandelion and snowdrop blooms 
and green our lawns in a very noticeable 
manner. Crimson clover made an almost 
continuous growth until February, and 
never appeared to better advantage. The 
thick mat of tops will surely be of great 
advantage when turned under. Consid¬ 
erable January plowing was accomplished 
in favorable situations—the first midwin¬ 
ter stirring of the soil in many years— 
and the hard freezing now on should do 
wonders in the way of fining and prepar¬ 
ing it for early Spring tillage. Ever¬ 
greens have not been particularly happy, 
if judged by their dry and brown foliage. 
Even the native hardy kinds have a more 
discouraged look than is usual in colder 
Winters. This is probably more due to 
the Fall drought than to the effects of 
any cold yet experienced, and may not 
mean any especial harm . Rhododendrons 
have been busy curling their leaves on 
frosty nights and uncoiling them as the 
temperature rose in daylight Though 
yellowed by drought and wind exposure, 
they look better than might be expected 
at this writing. Privet and Chinese hon¬ 
eysuckle have retained their foliage to an 
unusual degree. 
The Charming Foxglove. —Few orna¬ 
mental plants better express the home 
garden idea than the foxglove, although it 
is now planted in great quantity in parks 
and pleasure grounds. No matter how 
modern its surroundings, the foxglove, 
or Digitalis, has, when in flower, a digni¬ 
fied, old-fashioned effect that is perenni¬ 
ally delightful. Fig. 73, page 170, re¬ 
duced in size, shows spikes of the bell¬ 
shaped blooms of the common garden 
varieties such as children delight to use 
as caps for their thumbs and fingers. 
There are several species in cultivation, 
but the purple, rose and white spotted 
blooms of D. purpurea, sold generally as 
D. gloxinioides, are, most popular. Plants 
reach three feet high on good soil, and are 
easily grown from seeds that may be had 
anywhere for five cents the packet. Fox¬ 
gloves are practically biennials, as they 
generally bloom themselves to death the 
second year. Seeds may be sown in a 
sheltered place in May and the plants 
moved to the blooming position by Aug¬ 
ust, setting them about 18 inches apart. A 
thin covering of coarse litter will help 
them through the Winter, but the foliage 
should never be smothered under heavy 
coverings. When in bloom they domi¬ 
nate the whole garden. By cutting out 
the center spikes as the blooms begin to 
fade a strong growth of side shoots may 
usually be induced. w. v. F. 
SPRAYING FRUIT TREES. 
The question of spraying fruit trees to prevent the 
depredations of insect pests and fungus diseases is 
no longer an experiment, but a necessity. 
Our readers will do well to write Wm. Stahl Sprayer 
Co., Box 70J, Quincy, Ill., and get their catalogue 
describing twenty-one styles of Spraying Outfits and 
full treatise on spraying the different fruit and 
vegetable crops, which contain much valuable in¬ 
formation, and may be had free. 
THE 
“PROTECTOR” 
“THE M0NKEY=WRENCH KIND. 
SPRAY PUMP 
is not 
THE “ PROTECTOR ” IS THE 
A powerful, efficient all¬ 
brass spray pump made from 
seamless, cold-drawn brass 
tubing and best quality cast 
brass. 
MADE AS A SPRAY-PUMP 
SHOULD BE MADE. 
BEST because it is the most 
durable, most powerful and most simple pump on the 
market. Made with “ PROTECTOR ” solid brass, automatic 
grinding and cleaning poppet valves; the “PROTECTOR” agi¬ 
tator that really agitates and reversible handle. Y alves 
are easily accessible. A/o monkey-wrench necessary • 
May we send you our booklet “ Spraying for Profits?” 
The Humphryes Mfg. Co., Dept. C., 
MANSFIELD, OHIO . 
V —— ^ 
Defender 
Sprayer 
All brass, easiest work¬ 
ing, most powerful, au¬ 
tomatic mixer, expan¬ 
sion valves, double 
strainer. Catalogue of 
Pumps and Treatise on 
Spraying free. 
Agents Wanted. 
J. F. GAYLORD, 
Box 78,CatBkill, N. Y. 
Insecticides 
REO. U. a. PAT. orr. 
Target Brand 
Scale Destroyer. 
A soluble oil especially pre¬ 
pared for San Jose Scale 
and other sucking insects. 
Results guaranteed. 
Target Brand 
Arsenate of Lead. 
The best poison for 
Cod ling Moth, Curculio, 
CankerWorrn,Caterpil¬ 
lar and leaf-eating in¬ 
sects in general. Will 
not burn foliage. 
Full line of insecticides and fungicides such as 
Bordeaux, Dust Sprays, Etc. Sold by seedsmen 
everywhere. Write for catalogue and testimonials. 
American Horticultural Distributing Co. 
MARTINSBURG, W. VA. 
SAL1MENE 
THE BEST REMEDY FOR 
SAN JOSE SCALE. 
Liquid or Powder Form. Circulars and price on 
application. 
MONMOUTH CHEMICAL WORKS, 
Shrewsbury, New Jersey. 
KILr®°9GAE£ 
Kills the Scale, a combination of Soluble Petro¬ 
leum and sulphur. Write for circular. On sale in 
New York by Henderson & Co., Stumpp & Walter, 
Weeber & Don, and Philadelphia by H. A. Dreer 
and H. F. Michell. 
c l\jfcioqeiv QiRufre; 
The great soil improver for Peas, Beans Clovers, &c. 
Write for prices and circular. GRIFFITH & TUR¬ 
NER CO., 211 N. Paca Street, Baltimore, Md. 
-BOOK ON SPRAYING 
Send for a copy of our new book on how 
to spray. Contains valuable formulas, 
and also describes the PERFECTION SPRAY- 
ER—simplest, strongest, most powerful sprayer ever 
invented. Don’t buy a sprayer until you get this book. 
TU09IA8 PEPPLER, Box 45, Hlghtstown, N, J. 
J- PERFECTION—i 
•SPRAY PUMP 
All brass. Seamless brass tubing without 
threads on either end. Easily taken apart for 
cleaning. No chance for rust. Simple, sub¬ 
stantial and the most efficient all-round spray 
f pump made. Special price of 92.60 to 
prlt introduce. First order gets agency. Spray 
Hand and Wind Mill Pumps of all kinds. Write for 
°“* log ' Barnes Mfg. Co., Dept. 13,Mansfield, 0. 
BARREL SPRAYER "FREE; 
Write today to find out how to se¬ 
cure a Hurst “FITZ-ALL” Spray¬ 
er FREE; fits all sizes barrels and 
tanks. Sprays all solutions, has 
bronze valves, brass cylinder and 
plunger, strainer cleaner and three 
agitators. More economical, 
and easierto operate than any 
other sprayer on the market. 
GUARANTEED for 5 YEARS. 
Special offer on first one in 
each locality, to intro¬ 
duce. Full information 
furnished. 
H. L. HURST MFG. CO. 
401 North St., Canton, 0. 
! Sprayers to Spray “everything ’.’-($2 to $<oo.) Sent 
on io days’ trial. A t wholesale where no agent. 
SPRAY OR SURRENDER 
that is the ultimatum that in¬ 
sects and fungi have served 
on every fruit-grower" of 
America. If you do 
not heed the warning 
you will not get profits 
from your orchards. 
Every man who sprays intel¬ 
ligently, at the proper time, 
finds it the most profitable 
operation on the farm. 
Send for illustrated catalogue 
of the ECLIPSE Spray Pumps 
and outfits. 
Morrill & Morley, Benton Harbor, Mich. 
More Power Spraying outfits with 
our 1*2 and H. P. AIK-COOLKD 
Engines are used than all others com¬ 
bined. No water to freeze or carry. 
It is light. Write for Catalog 5 on 
Engines for Power and Spraying. 
i i-a 
rr nirvn av rn ni „York. 
Deming Power Sprayer 
Self-contained, simple, light, pract¬ 
ical. Load it on wagon box or tank 
wagon and attach hose and you are 
ready for work. The Ideal outfit 
for orehardl8ts and park 
managers. The only really 
efficient gasoline englneout- 
111 .at sells at a reasonable 
price. 
Everything in Sprayers 
Buckst, Barrel, Knapsack, 
Hand, Etc. outfits adapted 
to every purpose. Don’t buy 
till you Investigate the 
famous Deming line. 
Catalogue Free. 
THE DEMING CO., 
Dept. 200, 
SALEM, OHIO. 
mm “SCALECIDE” H9U. 
WILL POSITIVELY DESTROY 
San Jose, Cottony Maple Scale, PsHIa, Etc. 
The following is an extract from the Jan. 15, 1906, Bulletin issued by Prof. S. A. Forbes, State Entoinolo 
gist, Urbana, Ill. “The time and labor necessary to the preparation of the sulphur wash may be greatly 
saved by using as a substitute a spray of soluble petroleum, made by diluting one part of the commercial 
preparation known as ‘ Scalecide ’ with nineteen parts of water. While more expensive than the sulphur 
wash, it may be used to advantage in a small orchard or in a town lot.” , , 
The above estimate by Prof. Forbes was probably based on small retail quantities as will be seen by tne 
following extract from the Rural New-Yorker, Jan. 20, 1906, page 51. “ The soluble oils are cheap and con¬ 
venient, requiring only mixture with a proper amount of water, and make i^deal applications from tne 
sprayer’s standpoint. A comparative trial made by the Pennsylvania R.R. Co., in spraying fourteenmilesoi 
Osage orange hedge showed the soluble oils to be cheaper than lime and sulphur when all charges tor laoor 
and fuel, as well as first cost of materials, were reckoned up.” Furthermore, one gallon of scalecide 
spray costing less than 3 cents a gallon delivered at any railroad station in the United States will cover as 
much surface as one and one-half to two gallons of lime, sulphur and salt wash. Prices, sample .ana en¬ 
dorsements of experiment stations on application. 
B. G. PKATT CO., 11 Broadway, New York City. t 
